Lesson Two: Stick Technique

Hello. Welcome back. This is lesson two. In lesson one, we covered the basic history of the drum set, what everything is and what everything does. So now you know all that. Great!

Overview of Lesson Two

In lesson two, we are going to talk about:

• Stick technique
• How to hold the sticks
• Why we hold the sticks the way we do
• Different possibilities for holding
• Ensuring that you don't hurt yourself when you play

Getting Started

So, what I'm going to get you to do first is pick up your sticks. I'm assuming you have some. If you don't, grab a set of 5A drumsticks. They are the industry standard, not too heavy, not too light.

Now, pick up your sticks and put the fleshy bit of your thumb right on top of the stick. If you have a set of Vic Firth sticks, you can put it straight on top of the American flag, which I find quite helpful.

The Fulcrum

• Place the fleshy part of your thumb on top of the sticks.
• Grip it with this knuckle here and hold it like that. This is called your fulcrum; it's where the stick can move back and forth.

I like to see all the fingers on the stick. Not all the time, but in general because if I play like this, it's going to be really easy to drop the stick. So, wrap all your fingers around.

• The end of your stick should be near the bony part of your palm.
• Avoid gripping too tightly, as this will restrict movement and create a choked sound from the drums.

Stick Holding 101

There are a few different types of stick technique:

1. German Technique:

   • Palms up, very rigid holding.

2. French Technique:

   • Thumbs on top, fingers underneath, use your fingers quite a lot.

3. American Technique:

   • A mix of the two, with thumbs on top but a more relaxed grip.

For now, let's stick with the American grip. Imagine there's something written on the back of your hand; you need to be able to see the backs of your hands at all times.

Stick Positioning

• The sticks should be positioned over the snare drum, forming the shape of a decent-sized slice of pizza.
• Avoid incorrect positioning: None of this (pointing too high) and definitely none of that (pointing too low).

Foot Technique

Now, we're going to talk a little about foot technique. Foot technique is generally simpler. The hi-hat has two basic sounds with the foot:

• Chick Sound: A nice, defined sound.
• Open, Washy Splash Sound:

The bass drum typically has one sound, which you can play louder or quieter, depending on the style of music.

Resting Positions

With both feet, we can have two resting positions:

1. Heel Up:

   • The ball of your foot rests on the pedal, allowing you to use the weight of your leg to play louder.

2. Heel Down:

   • Heels stay on the footplate, allowing you to play quieter with less effort.

The Basketball Principle

This is by no means my concept, but it's how I refer to it.

• When you throw a basketball down, it bounces back to you without having to pick it up again.
• Similarly, with a drumstick, throw the stick down and let it bounce back into your hand as far as possible.

This demonstrates the importance of rebound; if you don't allow the stick to rebound, you'll tire out your arms quickly.

Practical Exercise

Now, play one stroke with your right hand and let the stick bounce back up. Repeat this with your left hand.

• Focus on the rebound, as it can significantly improve your playing technique.

Summary

To sum up today's lesson, we've covered:

• Where to hold the stick (thumb on top).
• What a fulcrum is.
• Where to position our fingers.
• The concept of rebound and the Basketball Principle.
• Heel up and heel down positioning on the bass drum pedal and the hi-hat pedal.

Thank you very much for watching, and I'll see you in lesson three!